PUTRAJAYA: Misleading social media posts, including fake online job advertisements, have become a major challenge, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Stressing the importance of fact-checking and research, Fadillah reminded citizens to consult public information resources when receiving any online offers to avoid falling victim to scams.

"One of our major challenges now is social media. Many have fallen victim to... job offers overseas in which they end up becoming scammers themselves.

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"That is how we receive (potential scam) messages in Bahasa because our own people have been forced to work (as scammers)," he said at the closing ceremony of the 2023 National Anti-Scam Campaign – Putrajaya level here on Thursday (Dec 7).

Fadillah also shared his personal involvement in bringing Malaysians home after they were forced to work as scammers overseas.

"I have brought Sarawakian youths home. They went to seek job opportunities with attractive (promises) but instead they were duped and forced to become scammers themselves.

"Unfortunately, some died from the abuse they endured (abroad)," he said.

Fadillah added that statistics by the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department showed that online crime rose by 37% this year, with 32,366 cases reported from January to November against 23,608 in the same period last year.

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"The total losses (so far this year) amount to RM1.13bil, an increase of 46% over last year," he said.

Fadillah said proactive measures to protect personal information and national data should be prioritised.

"We need to establish cooperation among various agencies, private organisations, government and the business sector to develop a comprehensive strategy to address threats in the ever-changing cyber landscape," he said.